Sooners missed on star defenders, but landed solid prospects with upside for the future

NORMAN, Okla. -- The 2012 recruiting year was quickly becoming the year of the "miss" when it came to Oklahoma and defensive prospects. Defensive backs coach Mike Stoops, however, was able to steal two quality defensive backs in the final week, giving the Sooners reason for optimism.

But in a 26-person class, recruits on defense only make up eight of those slots. So how did the Sooners fare in filling out those eight slots?

Defensive line: One word describes OU's defensive line: potential. That's what OU is banking on at defensive end. The Sooners have taken two three-star ends that practically no other teams had even heard of initially in Charles Tapper (Baltimore/City College) and Michael Onuoha (Edmond, Okla./Santa Fe).